Waterproofing – impervious to water – especially: covered or treated with a material (such as a solution of rubber) to prevent permeation by water ~ Merriam Webster
Tried and True – expression which describes a product or method that has already been used and has been found to be successful ~ Collins English Dictionary
Is Epoxy Resin Waterproof?
One of the many great properties of epoxy resin – aside from the adhesion and filling attributes – is its ability to seal and form a waterproof (and anti-corrosive) layer of protection. Versatile epoxy resin is used in myriad residential, commercial and industrial applications – and is an instrumental material for homeowners, contractors and engineers to have on hand for repairs, maintenance and construction projects of all kinds.
The Benefits of Using Waterproof Epoxy Resin
Keeping waterproof epoxy resin in your toolbox is a good way to have a versatile repair and maintenance material at your fingertips when you need it. Waterproof resin makes a great solution to address so many tasks – not only around the house – but also for myriad craft and hobby projects as well. Epoxy resin’s benefits include:
- Adherence to Multiple Substates – almost any material used for crafting and DIY projects may be used with epoxy resin – from wood, metal and glass – to rubber, masonry and plastic, two-part epoxies fill and bond creating a hard plastic as solid as the surfaces to which they adhere
- Superior Bonding – the secret of epoxy resins’ high-performance bonding and strength is in the 2-part epoxy system of adhesive and hardener and their thermosetting (heat generating) reaction – this chemical interaction produces a strong bond
- Seals & Protects – waterproof epoxy resin is used to coat and seal surfaces providing protection not only from moisture, but also provides an impact and corrosion resistant barrier protecting substrates from corrosive elements (oil, solvents) and wear and tear
Using Epoxy Sealant for Waterproofing
A key property of epoxy resins is their ability to resist moisture and form a waterproof layer protecting surfaces from this element. Waterproof resins provide versatile and diverse solutions – from plumbing applications to bond and fasten pipes, fittings and sinks – to marine applications for boating repairs, restorations and maintenance. Paints reinforced with epoxy resin can be used to coat and seal a variety of surfaces as well.
Application Variables to Consider
To ensure that the application of waterproof epoxy resin meets the requirements of the job at hand, a few variable need to be considered:
- The type of Resin Used – the task at hand will dictate what type of epoxy resin should be used. For instance, to protect delicate artwork – art resin should be applied. For heavy duty boating applications – marine-grade resin should be employed. There are also tabletop resin and casting resin solutions for furnishings and other applications. Using the right resin for the right job helps ensure a successful and satisfying result!
- Thickness of Application – how much resin should be applied will be determined by the requirements and scope of the project. Protecting art and craft work for example, probably won’t require the resin to be applied as thickly as in a furniture or boating applications. The amount of wear-and-tear anticipated and the moisture resistance desired will determine thickness of epoxy resin needed.
- Curing Time – always follow epoxy resin mixing and application instructions to the letter for best results. Shortcuts should not be taken and variables such as ambient workspace temperature, material mixing ratios, safety precautions and working and curing times need to be strictly adhered to.
Epoxy Resin Uses – Growing & Growing…
“In fact, the applications for epoxy seem to only multiply with time, as the chemical agent is able to take on a wide variety of properties imbued in it by various industrial treatment processes, thanks to which epoxy resins can be very fast setting or extremely slow setting (or curing); they can be of the most solid rigidity, or they can be given a great degree of flexibility; they can be transparent or opaque or given a certain color,” from ‘The Benefits of Using Waterproof Epoxy Resin,’ a resource for the construction industry & DIY-based projects.
“At home, epoxy resins have practically unlimited uses, and homeowners will find that in a wide variety of home improvement projects epoxy will be one of the key ingredients to have around especially as it is a water repellent. First and foremost, think waterproofing: wherever there’s a leak to be plugged, there’s an epoxy resin to be applied. An example of such an application is when fixing a sink basin to the bottom of a kitchen countertop (made of wood, metal, stone, etc.). Thanks to the excellent bonding properties, the epoxy won’t have a problem fastening to either the material of the sink or the countertop, whether they are the same or different.”
Epoxy resin may be applied to waterproof and protect almost any substrate materials including plastics, masonry, concrete, wood, and metals. The polymer is used in diverse applications including marine and auto repair, industrial construction for bridges and other structures, high-technology fabrication for aerospace, aircraft and wind turbines, and of course, as an instrumental part of keeping our homes and offices maintained as an invaluable repair, project and craft material.
